AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 vs Intel Core 9 273PQE Comparison

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 and Intel Core 9 273PQE represent two distinct approaches to high-performance computing, and the recorded benchmark data shows a clear split between multi-threaded throughput and raw single-core speed. Across the head-to-head tests, the AMD processor secures 9 wins, while the Intel processor takes 6. The most extreme margin in the dataset belongs to the Intel part in Cinebench R23 single-core, where it leads by 63.6%. The most decisive AMD victory is in Cinebench R15 multi-core, with a 32.8% advantage.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single-core results are dominated by the Intel Core 9 273PQE. In Cinebench R23 single-core, the Intel processor scores 5532 against the AMD's 2012.5, a 63.6% lead. Cinebench R15 single-core shows a narrower but still substantial gap: the Intel part scores 557, while the AMD part scores 306, a 45.1% difference. The PassMark single-thread test confirms the trend, with Intel leading 4573 to 4078, a 10.8% advantage. The R23 single-core gap is the largest recorded difference in any test between these two processors, indicating a fundamental disparity in per-thread performance.

Multi-core performance paints a more complex picture. The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 39190 against 35061, a 10.5% lead. However, in Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 wins decisively with 5247 against 3950, a 32.8% margin. This reversal between R15 and R23 suggests the AMD part's advantage is workload-dependent, scaling differently across rendering tasks.

PassMark results favor the AMD processor in most multi-threaded categories. The AMD part wins PassMark multithread with 51502 against 46107, an 11.7% lead. Integer math goes to AMD at 190720 versus 164629, a 15.8% advantage. Physics performance also favors AMD, 3189 to 2754, again a 15.8% margin. The largest PassMark win for AMD is in extended instructions, where it scores 52067 against 38743, a 34.4% lead. Prime number finding shows a 43.4% AMD advantage, with scores of 284 and 198. Random string sorting records a 31.9% AMD lead, 70150 to 53167.

Two PassMark tests go to Intel. Floating-point math shows a modest Intel win, 125546 to 120533, a 4% margin. Data compression favors AMD at 639356 to 585752, a 9.2% lead. Data encryption also goes to AMD, 32840 to 29636, a 10.8% difference. The average benchmark score places the AMD part at 80762, which sits in the 95th percentile of all CPUs. The Intel part averages 66099, placing it in the 93rd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The two processors diverge sharply in core configuration. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 uses 16 cores and 32 threads, built on the Zen 5 architecture with the Strix Halo codename. The Intel Core 9 273PQE uses 12 cores and 24 threads, based on the Bartlett Lake codename. The AMD processor operates on a 4 nm process from TSMC, while the Intel processor uses a 10 nm process from Intel's own foundry. The AMD part has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel part has a higher base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.90 GHz.

Cache hierarchies differ in capacity. Both processors share an L1 cache of 80 KB per core. The AMD part provides 1 MB of L2 per core, while the Intel part offers 2 MB per core. L3 cache strongly favors AMD: 64 MB shared, compared to 36 MB shared for Intel. The larger shared L3 on the AMD part aligns with its higher multi-threaded throughput in several PassMark tests.

Memory architecture is another major divider. The AMD processor supports LPDDR5X memory over a quad-channel bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The Intel processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus, with 89.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Both support ECC memory. The AMD part's bandwidth is nearly three times the Intel part's, a factor that likely contributes to its wins in data-heavy tests such as compression and encryption.

Platform specifications also differ. The AMD processor uses AMD Socket FP11 and is classified as a mobile segment part. The Intel processor uses Intel Socket 1700 and is a desktop segment part. PCIe support differs as well: the AMD part provides Gen 4 with 16 CPU lanes, while the Intel part provides Gen 5 with 16 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics differ: the AMD part uses Radeon 8060S, while the Intel part uses UHD Graphics 770. The AMD processor has a TDP of 55, while the Intel processor has a TDP of 125. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 wins in workloads that scale with core count and memory bandwidth. Its 9 benchmark wins include integer math, extended instructions, prime number finding, random string sorting, data compression, data encryption, and physics. These are compute-heavy tasks that benefit from the 16-core, 32-thread configuration and the quad-channel 256.0 GB/s memory path. The Cinebench R15 multi-core result, a 32.8% margin, reinforces this pattern. The AMD part also takes PassMark multithread by 11.7%, indicating strong overall parallel throughput.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins in single-thread-sensitive workloads. Its 6 wins include all single-core tests, Cinebench R23 multi-core, and floating-point math. The 63.6% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core is the standout result. The 45.1% lead in R15 single-core and the 10.8% lead in PassMark single-thread confirm a consistent per-thread advantage. The Cinebench R23 multi-core win by 10.5% is notable because it shows that the Intel part can outperform the AMD part even in a multi-threaded rendering workload, likely due to its higher clock speeds. The floating-point math win, though narrow at 4%, adds another category to Intel's column.

The average benchmark score gap, 80762 for AMD versus 66099 for Intel, places the AMD part higher overall, but the percentile ranks are close: 95th versus 93rd. The nearest rival data for the AMD part shows it trading positions with Intel Xeon parts, including a 0% delta against the Intel Xeon 638 and a 0.1% edge over the Intel Xeon w5-2565X. The Intel part's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, against which it holds a 0.3% lead, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, which leads it by 1.1%.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core performance?

A: The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins every single-core test in the dataset. It leads by 63.6% in Cinebench R23 single-core, 45.1% in Cinebench R15 single-core, and 10.8% in PassMark single-thread.

Q: Which processor wins multi-core rendering tests?

A: The result depends on the benchmark version. The Intel Core 9 273PQE wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 39190 against 35061, a 10.5% margin. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 wins Cinebench R15 multi-core with 5247 against 3950, a 32.8% margin.

Q: How do the core counts compare?

A: The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 has 16 cores and 32 threads. The Intel Core 9 273PQE has 12 cores and 24 threads.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each processor support?

A: The AMD processor supports LPDDR5X over a quad-channel bus with 256.0 GB/s. The Intel processor supports DDR4 and DDR5 over a dual-channel bus with 89.6 GB/s.

Q: What are the clock speeds of the two processors?

A: The AMD processor has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 5.10 GHz. The Intel processor has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.90 GHz.

Q: What is the process node for each processor?

A: The AMD processor is built on a 4 nm process from TSMC. The Intel processor is built on a 10 nm process from Intel.

The Verdict

The data defines two clear profiles. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 delivers superior multi-threaded throughput across a broad range of PassMark workloads, supported by 16 cores, 32 threads, a 64 MB L3 cache, and 256.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Its wins in integer math, extended instructions, compression, encryption, and physics show a processor optimized for parallel compute. The average benchmark score of 80762 and the 95th percentile rank place it ahead of the Intel part overall.

The Intel Core 9 273PQE delivers exceptional single-thread performance, with a 63.6% lead in Cinebench R23 single-core that is the largest margin in the comparison. Its higher clock speeds, 3.40 GHz base and 5.90 GHz boost, drive these results. The Intel part also wins Cinebench R23 multi-core by 10.5%, demonstrating that its per-core efficiency can overcome a 4-core disadvantage in at least one rendering workload. Its floating-point math win, though small, adds another strength.

For workloads dominated by single-thread responsiveness, the Intel Core 9 273PQE is the better match. For workloads that scale across many threads and benefit from high memory bandwidth, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 holds the advantage. The recorded data shows no single processor dominates both categories; the choice depends on the specific balance of single-thread speed and parallel throughput required by the application.